Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Iloilo Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Iloilo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,226 per month in Makati vs $670 in Iloilo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,005 per month in Makati vs $1,018 in Iloilo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,783 per month in Makati vs $1,367 in Iloilo, rent included.

Makati costs about 83% more than Iloilo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Makati and Iloilo are more affordable than the global median – Makati 10% lower, Iloilo 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 ₱406

$2.76 ₱173

134.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.29 ₱2,527

$19.15 ₱1,201

110.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.70 ₱295

$3.25 ₱204

44.62%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ₱166

$1.99 ₱125

33.17%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₱69.7

$0.69 ₱43.20

60.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱28.42

$0.33 ₱20.87

36.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₱148

$1.04 ₱65.3

125.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ₱201

$1.79 ₱112

78.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 ₱120

$1.63 ₱102

17.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₱80.6

$1.20 ₱75.1

6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$0.86 ₱53.8

22.09%

Eggs

$2.48 ₱155

$1.97 ₱123

25.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ₱438

$5.88 ₱369

18.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 ₱304

$4.02 ₱252

20.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 ₱424

$6.25 ₱392

8.32%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱258

$3.26 ₱205

26.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.08 ₱67.8

85.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱200

$3.05 ₱191

4.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₱143

$1.37 ₱86.2

66.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₱221

$2.30 ₱144

53.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 ₱225

$2.77 ₱174

29.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ₱69.3

$1.47 ₱92.0

-25.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₱71.7

$0.76 ₱47.48

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 ₱161

$3.09 ₱194

-16.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 ₱501

$6.47 ₱406

23.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱82.7

$1.08 ₱67.7

22.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₱127

$1.30 ₱81.5

56.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 ₱61.5

$0.22 ₱13.73

345.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.6 ₱3,613

$4.50 ₱282

1180.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₱42.14

$0.73 ₱45.89

-8.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.15

$0.36 ₱22.63

-41.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

$2.32 ₱145

-19.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱78.0

$1.04 ₱65.3

19.23%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.1K ₱1.3M

0.18%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.7K ₱1.2M

$19.5K ₱1.2M

0.91%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$152 ₱9,541

$64.2 ₱4,026

136.95%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.13 ₱1,012

$9.41 ₱590

71.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 ₱1,984

$26.69 ₱1,674

18.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.5 ₱3,416

$9.29 ₱583

486.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.45 ₱906

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 ₱436

$4.66 ₱292

49.14%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$803 ₱50.4K

$31.35 ₱1,966

2460.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,454 ₱467.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,755

$23.89 ₱1,499

150.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.50 ₱2,352

$17.73 ₱1,112

111.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 ₱5,130

$54.6 ₱3,423

49.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₱6,544

$23.66 ₱1,484

341.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$752 ₱47.2K

$296 ₱18.6K

153.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱26.9K

$224 ₱14.1K

91.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 ₱142.9K

$1,263 ₱79.2K

80.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 ₱66.1K

$432 ₱27.1K

143.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,865 ₱367.9K

$3,697 ₱231.9K

58.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,745 ₱234.9K

$1,022 ₱64.1K

266.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ₱38.3K

$206 ₱12.9K

196.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

7.33

2.32%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Makati: September 14, 2026

Last update for Iloilo: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $752 in Makati versus $296 in Iloilo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 196% higher in Makati, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Makati versus $19.00 in Iloilo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $186 – making Iloilo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Makati vs Iloilo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Makati is pricier by about 83%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,840 per month in Makati and $1,005 in Iloilo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Iloilo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Makati and $19.00 in Iloilo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,226 in Makati and $670 in Iloilo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Iloilo, where all-in costs run around $670, than in Makati at $1,226. In Iloilo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Iloilo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Iloilo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Makati makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.